User:Benatural0000001/sandbox
Justin Bell | |
|---|---|
| Born | Justin Elijah Bell October 22, 1977 Oakland, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Video game composer, sound designer, and audio director |
| Employer | Obsidian Entertainment |
| Known for | Pillars of Eternity |
Justin E. Bell (born October 22, 1977) is an American video game composer and sound designer best known for composing the music of the video game Pillars of Eternity[1] and it's expansions Pillars of Eternity: The White March Parts I and II.
Early life and education[edit]
Bell was born in Oakland, California and raised in San Francisco Bell earned an Associate of Arts degree in Music from Los Angeles Valley College in 2004[2], and then earned aBachelor of Artsidegreen Music Composition from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2007[2]. While attending both colleges, Bell also studied and performed classical guitar.
Career[edit]
Obsidian Entertainment (2010–present)[edit]
In January 2010, Bell joined Obsidian Entertainment as a sound designer. His first project was Fallout: New Vegas[3]. He designed most of the environment sound effects and vocal post processes, and contributed to the game's user interface sounds and in-game cinematics[2]. He also wrote several music stingers including those for ED-E's theme, Wild Wasteland, Pimp-Boy 3 Billion, and all combat transition segments[2]. Later that year he worked on Dead Money, New Vegas' first add-on pack. Once again he designed environmental and additional cutscene sound effects. He also wrote the music to Begin Again, a song heard in Dead Money which features lyrics written by Mikey Dowling and Chris Avellone.[4]
The following year, Bell designed all player ability sound effects, and most creature vocal and ability sound effects for Dungeon Siege III and it's DLC, Treasures of the Sun[5]. In 2012, Bell was part of the team that created the Kickstarter pitch video for Pillars of Eternity[5][6]. While working on South Park: The Stick of Truth[7], Bell was promoted to the role of audio director.
Shortly after South Park: The Stick of Truth shipped in 2014, Bell started writing the music for Pillars of Eternity[8]. In a Kickstarter update for that project, Bell stated that the score he was writing would follow "in the footsteps of the Infinity Engine soundtracks in terms of style and implementation" but would differ in that "Music [...] will be longer in areas where the player spends a lot of time (like quest hubs) and shorter in areas where the player doesn’t (like some dungeons)."[8]
Critical reception to the music of Pillars of Eternity and it's expansion Pillars of Eternity: The White March was generally favorable. Game Informer described the music as "[a] delicate and beautiful orchestral soundscape"[9], while Gamespot called the soundtrack for The White March Part II "Brilliant"[10] stating that "[...] the poignant music interplays with everything to make for some truly memorable moments."[10] Conversely, some reviewers felt the music lacked distinctive melodic themes. According to gamemusic.pl, "Above all, however, is the lack of leitmotiff" that would "always be associated with Pillars of Eternity."[11]
References[edit]
- ^ "Justin Bell – Pillars of Eternity". gamemusic.pl.
- ^ a b c d "Justin Bell - Fallout Wikia".
- ^ "Game Sound from the Ears of a Linear Mixer". CAS Quarterly. Fall 2010.
- ^ "Listen again to "Begin Again"". www.bethblog.com.
- ^ a b "Moby Games - Justin Bell Video Game Credits".
- ^ "Update 14: The Music of Project Eternity".
- ^ "Bring the Noise: Justin Bell". Get In Media.
- ^ a b "Pillars of Eternity Update #76 - Music in Pillars of Eternity".
- ^ Miller, Matt (April 1, 2015). "Pillars of Eternity - A Return to the Glory Days". gameinformer.com.
- ^ a b Todd, Brett (February 25, 2016). "Pillars of Eternity: The White March Part 2 Review". gamespot.com.
- ^ Belina-Brzozowski, Konrad (May 5, 2015). "Pillars of Eternity Original Soundtrack". gamemusic.pl.
External links[edit]
Category:American video game composer
Category:Living people
Category:University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Valley College alumni
Category:Pillars of Eternity series developers
Category:Obsidian Entertainment
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
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